Supporters of progressive Oakland District Attorney Pamela Price mocked parents of murder victims at a rally calling for her ouster.
Counterprotesters chanted “raise your children” at those demanding Price’s removal in the November election.
Price was elected on a platform of justice reform, but many say her policies allow violent criminals to return to the streets.
The June 8 demonstration turned ugly when the two groups of activists clashed in front of the Alameda Courthouse.
“I’m really upset, a Pamela Price fan just told me to ‘raise my son’. I wish I could, I wish I was here so I could raise him,” said one mother who lost her son to gun violence. KPIX.
Supporters of progressive Oakland prosecutor Pamela Price (pictured) mocked parents of murder victims at a rally calling for her ouster.
Price’s opponents recently managed to get his recall back on the ballot.
They are unhappy with his decision not to seek special sentencing enhancements that would lengthen prison terms.
The mother of 5-year-old Eliyanah Crisostomo, who was hit by a bullet on the freeway and died, says Price refuses to consider enhancements against the suspects.
“These criminals are going to go out and hurt another child,” he said. “You are playing with our children’s lives.”
But Price’s supporters say sentencing should not be based on victims’ emotions and that such enhancements are disproportionately used against people of color.
Counterprotesters chanted “Raise your children” at those demanding Price’s removal in the November election.
Price faces a recall effort just one year into her tenure as the county’s first Black woman to serve as district attorney.
Recall advocates submitted more than 123,000 petition signatures to the county Registrar of Voters.
Among the controversies while in office was the release of a memo written by Price advocating for probation to be the “presumptive offer” during plea negotiations.
He said low prison sentences should be offered in cases that are not eligible for parole, although almost all crimes in California’s penal code are eligible for parole.
The policy allows exceptions in “extraordinary” circumstances, including human trafficking, hate crimes, child or elder abuse, and crimes that cause “extensive” physical injury.
Price stated, “This directive reduces reliance on sentencing and charging enhancements in an effort to restore balance in sentencing and reduce recidivism.”
The directive became especially controversial as Price refused to confirm that he would support increasing the sentences imposed on three gang members accused of murdering two-year-old Jasper Wu, who was killed by a stray bullet.